Floatable foundation for buildings.



R. PAINE. FLOATABIQE FOUNDATION FOR BUILDINGS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.1, 1913.

1,088,239. Patented Feb. 24, 1914,

7. Z 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES: a LVVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT PAINE, OF WEST HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

FLOATABLE FOUNDATION FOR BUILDINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.24, 1914.

Application filed march 1, 1913. Serial No. 751,502.

' turecomposed of concrete or artificial stone,

that may be suitably] reinforced and which is shaped so as to. be floatable.

The present invention is an improvement on the structure set forth in an application Serial No. 699,603, filed by me, wherein a similar construction is set forth.

In the present invention the foundation is formed of spaced walls thereby providing one or a number of closed compartments that will increase the buoyancyof the structure; and which foundation is provided with a central floor or stage in the interior that may be surrounded-by annular rows of tiers, forming seats or which may be provided with chairs or benches.

In the accompanying drawing showing one embodiment of my invention: Figure 1' is a vertical section through the foundation showing a superstructure thereon. Fig. 2 is a broken cross section as indicated on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view substantially similar to Fig. 1 but as taken at right angles thereto, and showing a slightmodification in the construction of the floatable foundation. Referring to the drawings the structure is shown as provided with a foundation composed of an outer curved or spherical wall 7, and an inner curved or spherical'wall 8 that are shown as united at the central bottom portion 9; all of the walls or parts of the structure (or most of them) are formed of artificial stone orv concrete of any desired composition; and the same may be suitably reinforced in any desired manner, but the reinforcement is not shown in the drawing. These curved walls are connected at the top by a wall or portion 10 shown in the form of a horizontal annular platform; and the outer portion of the lower walls 7 has a vertical extension or wall 12 of cylindrical contour, that connects with the outer portion of the plat-form 10. If desired afender or buffer 13 may be provided at the outer portion of the wall 10 for the purpose of relieving any sharp blow'sthat the structure may sustain, which fender may be constructed of wood or metal or of any desired cushioning material. The space between these walls or shells 7 and 8, including'the platform 10 and the cylindrical wall 12, constitutes a closed compartment that will greatly increase the buoyancy of the structure.- These walls are further strengthened by a series of radial walls 14, forming a series of closed divisional compartments '32 bet-ween these partitions; that will make for safety, as should any one or a few of these compartments be punctured admitting the water, the remaining ones would serve to still float the structure.

At the central interior portion of the inner shell 8 is provided a circular floor or stage 15. The inner shell between the stage 15 at the bottom, and the upper platform 10, may be provided with alternate treads and risers 30, thereby forming annular tiers; that may themselves constitute seats, or may have chairs or benches placed thereon, to

thereby constitute a kind of amphitheater.

The structure is shown provided with a top member of annular form, denoted generally by 17 thatis suitably supported from the platform 10 by upright members. An annular series of posts 18 are shown forming the supports for the roof 17. And an annular vertical wall 19 is .provided conmeeting the platform and the roof, inside of the posts 18; the wall being provided with doors 20 at suitable locations, such as the aisles 30.

At one side the platform 10 has an ex-:

tension 21, and above the same a similar extension isprovided for the roof, thereby forming a portico, that may be the entrance for the structure. It will: be observed that the posts 22 atthis portion extend in, a vertical plane. y

The roof 17 is shown as composed of an upper wall 23, and an inner annular wall 24 spaced therefrom providing a compartment 25. The roof may be provided with a central opening at 26. Y

This foundation may constitute a floating support for a structure which may be advantageously employed as-a' theater, studio, bath,wcrkshop, storage or a building for other uses; the purposev of the invention being to provide a fioatable foundation which by reason of its cheapness of construction and durability, and the practicability of keeping in condition and repair renders cheap or otherwise unavailable sites available for building purposes.

In Fig. 3 the foundation is shown in substance the same as Fig. 2, but having intermediate between the lower and upper partially spherical walls, a wall 28 which construction in conjunction with the radial partitions producing upper 'and lower series of inclosed compartments,the portion of the structure below the intermediate wall and the inclosed compartments thereabove serving as a guard and protection to the latter portion of the structure and rendering the foundation entirely safe even if some portions of the lower shell become broken or perforated.

Having 1 thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A building structure having a floatable basin shaped foundation of concrete or artificial stone formed with a plurality of spaced.curved Walls forming inner and outer shells, the walls being connected at the upper portion by an annular horizontal platform, upright members on the platform, and a roof member carried by the upright members.

2. A building structure having a floatable basin shaped foundation of concrete or artificial stone formed with a plurality of spaced curved walls forming inner and outer shells, the walls being connected at the upper portion by an annular horizontal platform, upright members on the platform, a roof member carried by the upright members, and aplatform on the central inner part of the inner shell at its lower portion.

3. A building structure of concrete or artificial stone having a basin shaped foundation formed with a plurality of spaced curved walls forming inner and outer shells, 1

the walls being joined at the central portion, the shells being connected at the upper portion by an annular horizontal platform, upright members on the platform, and a roof member carried by the upright members.

4. A building structure of concrete or artificial stone having a basin shaped foundation formed with a plurality of spaced curved walls forming inner and outer shells, the walls being joined at the central portion, the shells being connected at the upper portion by an annular horizontal platform, upright members on' the platform, and a roof member carried by the upright members, said shells being connected by radial upright Walls extending to the platform.

5. A building structure of concrete or artificial stone -t'rizg a basin shaped foundation formed with a plurality of spaced curved walls forming inner and outer shells, the walls being joined at the central portion, the shells being connected at the upper por-. tion by an annular horizontal platform, up-

right members on the platform, and a roof member carried by the upright members, the roof being connected with the platform by a vertical wall of cylindricalform.

6. A building structure having a fioatable basin shaped foundation of concrete or artificial stone formed with a plurality of spaced curved walls forming inner and outer shells that are connected at the central portion at the base and also connected at the to portions, the top of the inner shell being provided with alternate treads and risers to form tiers.

7. A building structure having a floatable basin shaped foundation of concrete or artificial stone formed with a plurality of spaced curved walls forming inner and outer shells that are connected at the central portion at the base and also connected at the top portions, a stage at the central inner part of the inner shell at its lower portion, the inner shell beyond the stage being provided with alternate treads and risers form ing tiers.

8. A building structure-having a floatable basin shaped foundation of concrete or aring tiers, upright members at the top of the shell portions, and a roof member carried by the upright members.

9. A building structure having a 'floatable basin shaped foundation of concrete or artificial stone formed with a plurality of spaced curved walls forming inner and outer shells, the walls being connected at the upper portion by an'annular horizontal platform, upright members on the platform, a roof member carried by the upright members, the platform and the roof having registering extensions forming a portico.

10. A building structure of concrete or artificial stone formed with a plurality of spaced curved walls forming inner and outer shells that are connected at the central portion, a horizontal platform of annular sha e at the top of the inner and outer shells, tiie outer shell having a vertical cylindrical extension connecting with the platform, a stage at the central inner part of the inner shell at its lower portion, the inner shell beyond the stage being provided with alternate treads and risers forming tiers, radial walls connecting the two shells and the an- 11. A building structure of concrete or artificial stone formed with a plurality of spaced curved walls forming inner and outer shells, an annular horizontal platform con,- necting the upper portions of the shells, an upright annular wall at the'inner portion of the platform provideo with doorways, a

. series of posts on the platform and a roof member supported on said posts and cent walls.

12. A building structure having a floatable basin shaped foundation of concrete or artificial stone, composed of a plurality of spaced curved walls forming inner and outer shells, and whichconverge downwardly to a common central portion at the bottom.-

adjaing witnesses.

13. A building structure having a floatable basin shaped foundation of concrete or ROBERT PAINE. Witnesses: f

SornmTmrrmn,

WILLIAM C. GAINS.

a horizontal plat-form, 25 

